Ride alongs

[ironcross]

I'll be honest. When sitting in briefings, I don't know one cop that likes ride-a-longs. In fact, guys poke fun at the poor cop that has a ride-a-long assigned to him/her. (Ride a longs are not allowed in briefings for the majority of stations on my department, so the rider has no idea that the cops are trash talking the poor sole that has gotten stuck with one.) I'm just answering the question honestly because I'm sure the OP wants all opinions, good or bad.

My personal opinion is that ride-a-longs suck. It's nothing personal about the rider. The person is probably a nice person, but it's the fact of having someone basically sitting at our "desk" (patrol car) for 10 hrs a day observing everything the cop is doing.

Would you like a complete strainger (ride-a-long) watching your every move at your job? It gets old.

That is totally understandable. I've attempted to get one with a Deputy whom I know. Up here in north county there are a few of LEA that will give rides but only for 3 hours... Not worth the gas IMO (55miles).

Here let me ask you this. What if said ride alongee (A word?) shared the same interest's as you. Around mid shift you've seen that they [He or She] is one whom you could related to.

I know of people who would want to be (aloud) wanting to play with the vehicles' equipment. Hell when I was 5 I got to play with a SD Sheriff's car back in the late 80's early 90's. Made me want to be a Deputy Sheriff even more.

[This:

]

I just wish people who wish to make this career their live and lively-hood would be given the chance for a ride along. I just wish I knew about explorers before hand...

[Tacit Blue]

[ironcross]

Good ole SD county

[Yugo]

well im not on parole and im not in SD and I agree with trailer trash. But would love to go if I had a chance.

[JeffM]

I was invited by a Sgt to do a ride along a few years ago. It was interesting to say the least. It's funny some of the details I remember.

One other person was doing a ride along that shift, a 20.5 year old kid in the application process. He had his initial interview the next day. In the briefing the watch commander asked the kid if he knew what the agency's mission was. The kid did not. The poster with the mission/motto was on the wall right behind the watch commander. They still let him ride, but the officer who took him out was tasked with prepping him a little better for his interview.

It was boooooorrring for the first few hours. Then we were called to a vehicle collision and I was eventually asked to steer one of the wrecked cars while one of the officers pushed it out of the way of traffic with his patrol car.

Then there was a vehicle pursuit across town. Stolen car that eventually crashed. By the time we got there the FD had already put the fire out. It smelled like chicken.

Then there was a shot's fired call from a neighborhood that looked like Mexico, right down to the unpaved roads. Suspect was a Hispanic male, 18-25, white t-shirt, blue jeans. Every other house in a six square block area had someone matching that description hanging out in the front yard.

We were supposed to cut the ride along short because I had work at 4am the next morning, but I didn't end up getting home until midnight.

The officer was cool and seemed to treat it like it was just a part of the job. I'm generally a quite person and I just tried to stay out of the way, which I think he appreciated.

[Samuelx]

well im not on parole and im not in SD and I agree with trailer trash. But would love to go if I had a chance.

They're PROBABLY NOT gonna let you open carry and you're PROBABLY gonna have to carry and show your ID... Can you live with that?

[Yugo]

They're PROBABLY NOT gonna let you open carry and you're PROBABLY gonna have to carry and show your ID... Can you live with that?

LOL thats great .....no I was not planning on it and my ID is ready in a moments notice....hahahaha thats funny.
thanks for the chuckle. :

[Samuelx]

Check around the different agencies near you and see what requirements they may have to ride. I do appreciate those who are honestly looking to gain insight/understanding into our jobs...

[erik_26]

I'll be honest. When sitting in briefings, I don't know one cop that likes ride-a-longs. In fact, guys poke fun at the poor cop that has a ride-a-long assigned to him/her. (Ride a longs are not allowed in briefings for the majority of stations on my department, so the rider has no idea that the cops are trash talking the poor sole that has gotten stuck with one.) I'm just answering the question honestly because I'm sure the OP wants all opinions, good or bad.

My personal opinion is that ride-a-longs suck. It's nothing personal about the rider. The person is probably a nice person, but it's the fact of having someone basically sitting at our "desk" (patrol car) for 10 hrs a day observing everything the cop is doing.

Would you like a complete strainger (ride-a-long) watching your every move at your job? It gets old.

[Lrchops]

When there is a hot chick that shows up for a ride along, everyone volunteers!

[Yugo]

When there is a hot chick that shows up for a ride along, everyone volunteers!

When a hot chick show up ANYWHERE men do the dumbest ****.!!!
Especially when these men work with mostly other males.
At the end of the day we are ALL human.